Abstract
Traditionally, government extension agencies have played a critical role in ensuring that farmers had the knowledge, skills, and competencies to remain competitive and sustainable. However, with the decline in public sector extension activities across much of the developed and developing worlds a greater input is required from the private sector and farmers themselves. This chapter provides background detail on the developments that led to the emergence and evolution of grower groups as crucial players in the agricultural paradigm and describes the critical role played by these groups in sustainable growth and development. It details the development of self-help groups in India.
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Notes
- 1.
A set of institutes becomes a system when its individual components are interlinked or articulated, and the separate institutions are connected so that they communicate and cooperate in action to share their human, physical and financial resources in order to achieve one or more common goals.
- 2.
Democratic governance includes the separation of powers and independence of the branches of government, the exercise of powers in accordance with the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the transparency and accountability of a responsible civil service, functioning at both the national and local level.
- 3.
The framework for NARI emerged after World War II that facilitated major investment in agricultural research to improve food production.
- 4.
In the multiple source model, major emphasis is given to the idea that innovation comes from multiple actors including researchers and practitioners.
- 5.
The infant industry argument refers to a development approach that favours supporting new or “modernising” industries through various forms of production, subsidy and intervention.
- 6.
FTN is experienced in working with growers on soil fertility issues with more than 40 different crops and works within the USA and 15 countries worldwide.
- 7.
Pickles, jams, squashes, ground spices
- 8.
Funder–Purchaser–Provider model requires the separation of policy and service delivery responsibilities. The implementation of this model involves effective benchmarking of the cost of services.
- 9.
Regionalisation is a policy where regional managers act as providers under the FPP model to ensure integration across the State Department of Agriculture’s programs and negotiate with clients on service provision.
- 10.
The GRDC is responsible for planning, investing and overseeing research and development, and delivering improvements in production, sustainability and research and development across the Australian grains industry.
- 11.
The GGA is an umbrella organisation connecting grower groups within Western Australia.
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Anil, B., Tonts, M., Siddique, K.H.M. (2020). Community-Based Self-Help Groups in Agriculture. In: Blakeney, M., Siddique, K. (eds) Local Knowledge, Intellectual Property and Agricultural Innovation. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4611-2_11
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